Lenny Kravitz Clarifies Comments on Feeling Like He Is 'Not Celebrated': 'Referring to Black Award Shows'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lenny Kravitz at the Met Gala in New. York City in May 2022.Photo:Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

“It is important to me to set the record straight on recent media reports based on an interview I did,” Kravitz began the statement on his Story. “My Black musical heritage means a lot to me, and I owe my success to my supporters who have taken this journey with me over the span of my career.”

Lenny Kravitz’s Instagram Story.Lenny Kravitz/Instagram

Lenny Kravitz/Instagram

The singer/guitarist continued, “The comment I made was not about ‘Black media’ or the ‘Black community.’ I was specifically referring to black award shows in particular.”

“My comment was meant to express a concern about ensuring that black artists are being recognized for their work in what is now being called ‘non traditional’ Black music, which it is not,” the hitmaker wrote. “Rock and roll is the music we were instrumental in creating and is a part of our history. We must retain our heritage and celebrate that together.”

Lenny Kravitz performs in Hollywood in March 2023.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

The rocker shared, “And it’s like, here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers — just like those that came before me broke down. That is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”

“I have been that dream and example of what a Black artist can do,” he added.

While the singer-songwriter expressed his frustrations, he also added that he’s “not here for the accolades,” but rather “for the experience.”

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Next year, the singer/actor will release his first full-length album in over five years. His 12th studio album and follow-up to 2018’sRaise Vibration,Blue Electric Light, will arrive on March 15 (via Roxie and BMG).

In October, he dropped the lead single for the project, “TK421.” The track dropped along with itsNSFW music videoin which he stripped down while dancing to the infectious rock tune.

source: people.com